Interview with Ms Lau
March 20, 2021
- Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a British-born Chinese who grew up in a small town in Kent, South East of England. At a young age, I decided to go on an explorative journey to learn more about my Chinese roots. It wasn’t until I completed my degree and my first full-time teaching post that I had actually embarked on my new and exciting trip. To best learn about a culture and to fully understand the people who live there is to live there. So, I did. Destination: Hong Kong for the next twelve years.
- What made you pursue teaching?
At school, I had always found learning Science to be intriguing, I was interested to know why things were happening around me, for example, how did a lift work, what was the purpose of adding salt on an icy road, why did I hear birds chirping loudly early in the morning but not at 3:20pm when I walked back home from school? I didn’t find studying Science an easy subject at all, far from it. I had knowledgeable Science teachers, but they weren’t very good at engaging us. Despite this and for my continued innate interest in the subject, I soldiered on. It was because of my poor teachers’ delivery of Science that made me want to do a better job than they did.
- What are your extracurricular interests and passions outside of teaching?
I enjoy playing badminton, but I am probably rather rusty now since I haven’t been regularly playing it since the pandemic started. Once it is safe to do so, I will be back on the court and I can’t wait! My passion is my family – I have a little monkey-of-a-daughter who keeps me on my toes and I am constantly learning all the time about her and how to be a good mama.
- What made you want to come and teach here at Marymount?
I lived in Hong Kong and in Prague, Czech Republic. I love working in international schools, as the students and staff are so dynamic and full of fascinating stories about their different cultures, traditions and beliefs, I like to learn about what is going on around us. When I’m teaching in an international school, I am very happy, as I feel our world is brought much closer together. When I returned to live in the UK, I badly missed belonging to a global community, hence I applied to Marymount International London and I am excited to learn about you all.
- In your opinion, what have been the best and worst aspects of online learning so far?
The best aspects of online learning have been that despite living in a pandemic, we are still able to see and interact with each other. I wonder, had I lived in a pandemic when I was a child, without the Internet invented, no mobile devices but just relying on the postal service, the phone line and the television, life may have been a lot harder. I wonder how I would have continued being educated and stay sane without seeing my friends?
The worst aspects of online learning have been the constrains in the smooth delivery of my lessons – with screens frozen, lagging, the many buttons to click, etc. is testing my patience, and I’m sure of my students too. I am unable to have my students have the opportunity to learn the practical skills that is so important in Science and to engage the more difficult concepts in a more practical sense. In addition, I am learning that my body is not as flexibly responsive to a sitting position for longer than thirty minutes. I feel sorry for my family seeing and hearing my groans of back, neck, shoulder and headaches.
- If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Geeky, bubbly and kind.
- In your opinion, what has been the best scientific discovery ever made?
Wow, a really difficult question to answer, as there are so many. The aeroplane, space travel, fibre optics, genetic modification, antibiotics etc. To decide on ‘the best?’ What constitutes, ‘the best?’ I would say, a scientific discovery that has proven to be long-lasting, safe, sustainable and as ethically sound as possible would have to be the discovery of Sir Joseph Lister’s antiseptic methods to surgically treat patients.
- If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
To escape, where there is no SARS-CoV-2? Space! If on planet Earth, to visit my family in Kent and in Hong Kong.
- If you were in a stranded island, which two teachers would you like to take with you?
Think survival, entertainment and kindness (I wouldn’t want to bring someone who would eat me!). I would definitely take Ms Garcia-Suarez for the positive and entertaining elements of surviving. The second person I would take would be Mr Dickinson, our Head Gardener. He is tall, strong and knowledgeable in plants so he can build a shelter, chop down a tree to start a fire, climb the trees to pick some juicy coconuts and bananas, hunt for fish to cook by the fire whilst Ms Garcia-Suarez can entertain us with her rendition of ‘We will survive’ – hooray!
- If you could have any superpower, which superpower would you choose?
To read peoples’ minds.
- If you could have lunch with a person (dead or alive), who would you choose?
My father, who sadly died over 20 years ago.
- What piece of advice would you have liked to know as a student?
I am going to cheat a little in this last question. If I may, I’d like to add a few pieces of advice here?
- To keep an open mind throughout your life.
- All the subjects you learn are important regardless of whether you enjoy learning them or not.
- To keep pursuing what you enjoy doing, as this will bring happiness to your life.